This is my go to summer crumble. I make it all the time and it is one of the quickest dessert recipes to make. I found this recipe from Gwyneth Paltrow’s Cookbook called My Father’s Daughter.

INGREDIENTS

4 cups of fruit – fresh or frozen ( I use a mixed berry bag)

1/4 cup spelt light flour plus 1 tbsp to mix with fruit

1 cup of whole oats

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 tsp cinnamon

pinch of sea salt

4 tbsp organic unsalted butter at room temperature

DIRECTIONS

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a round pie shaped pan. Mix fruit with 1 tbsp white spelt flour and place into pie pan. In a separate bowl using your hands mix spelt light flour, whole oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, sea salt and organic butter. Make sure the butter is mixed into the other ingredients to create a crumble. Sprinkle mixture on top of fruit. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Let cool and enjoy! Top with sorbet or ice cream.

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I am a big Martha Stewart fan. Her latest cookbook called A New Way to Bake has delicious recipes using healthier ingredients. This gluten free brownie recipe called for toasted pecans but I substituted them for walnuts.

INGREDIENTS

6 tbsp unsalted organic butter cut into small pieces

1/3 cup cornstarch

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips3/4 cup cane sugar

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

3 eggs

1 cup chopped toasted nuts – walnuts, pecans

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line and spray an 8″ square baking dish. In a medium bowl whisk together cornstarch, cocoa, cinnamon and sea salt. In a small pot on low place small pieces of butter and semisweet chocolate chips together. Mix together slowly until melted. Remove from heat and mix in cane sugar and vanilla. Place mixture in a separate bowl and whisk in eggs one at a time. Add in cornstarch mixture and stir until mixture starts to pull away from the sides. Fold in nuts and pour batter into baking dish. Bake for approximately 35 minutes rotating baking dish half way through. Let cool in baking dish for 5-10 minutes. Enjoy!

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I recently came across a new cookbook called Food Swings by Jessica Seinfeld. I found some great recipes in her new book and since I love making soups I decided to try this recipe first. I added some vegetable fusilli pasta to make it more of a meal.

INGREDIENTS

3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 medium vidalia sweet onion diced

1 1/2 tsp sea salt

2 large garlic gloves minced

5- 6 cups water

2 – 3 celery ribs cut 1/2″ thick

2 medium size carrots cut into 14/ inch sticks

2 medium zucchini not peeled cut into 1/2″ pieces

1 cup green beans cut into 1″ pieces

2 cups shredded green or white cabbage

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

1 19 ounce can red kidney beans rinsed and drained

1/4 cup of flat leaf Italian parsley

1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese

1 box fusilli pasta

DIRECTIONS

In a medium pot boil salted water and then add a box of dried fusilli pasta. Cook for 10 minutes or until pasta is soft. Drain and set aside. In a separate large pot heat olive oil and saute chopped vidalia sweet onions and 1/2 tsp sea salt. Once onions are fragrant add minced garlic, celery and carrots. Cook for another 4 minutes. Add in zucchini, green beans, cabbage and 5 cups of water. Season with remaining sea salt and ground black pepper. Bring soup to a boil and reduce to medium temperature. Cook for 25 minutes or until vegetables are soft. Combine kidney beans and parsley to the soup and cook for another 10 minutes. Add in pasta and serve with grated parmesan cheese into each bowl. Enjoy!

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My muffin of the week is a banana muffin topped with an icing glaze. Just adding a little extra something makes it just a little more special!!

INGREDIENTS

1 cup wholewheat flour

1 cup spelt light flour

1/4 cup milled flaxseeds

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp sea salt

1 tsp baking soda

3 mashed bananas

1/2 cup organic milk with 1 tbsp lemon juice

1/2 cup safflower oil

1 large organic egg

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup cane sugar

1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

1 cup Icing sugar mixed with 2tbsp water to top off muffins.

DIRECTIONS

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Line and spray a 12 cup muffin tray or use silicone muffin liners. In a bowl mix together mashed bananas, milk with lemon juice and baking soda and set aside. In a separate bowl mix both flours, milled flax seeds, baking powder and sea salt. In another bowl beat oil, egg, vanilla and both sugars. Stir in banana mixture and then add dry ingredients. Finally mix in semi sweet chocolate chips and scoop batter into muffin cups. Bake for 25 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack. While muffins are cooling mix together in a small bowl icing sugar with water. Once muffins are completely cool take a spoon and drizzle icing sugar on top of the muffins. Enjoy!

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I recently purchased a mini spiralizer so I could make zucchini pasta. This dish is so fun and quick to make and is actually very satisfying.

INGREDIENTS

3-4 Zucchini

2 tbsp Olive Oil

2-3 Minced Garlic Cloves

1/2 Onion – minced

4 cups Baby Spinach

1/4 cup Parmesan or Gruyere Cheese – grated

1/2 tsp Sea Salt

1/4 tsp Black Pepper

DIRECTIONS

Spiralize the zucchini into a large bowl and then set aside. In a large skillet heat olive oil with onions and garlic. Sauté for 2 -3 minutes on medium heat. Add the zucchini noodles and spinach and mix until spinach starts to wilt. Add parmesan or gruyere cheese with salt and pepper. Toss and serve. Enjoy!

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It’s been a while since I’ve posted but I’m back. Every time I make this recipe it’s always such a big hit. It’s very easy to do, although you do have to constantly stir broth to the Arborio rice. It is well worth a little extra work!

INGREDIENTS

2-3 tbsp Olive Oil

3 tbsp Organic Butter

1 small Vidalia Onion – diced

1 1/2 cups Arborio Rice

7 cups Vegetable broth

2 pounds Mushrooms of your choice – sliced small

1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese

Salt and Pepper to taste

Basil for garnishing

DIRECTIONS

In a medium size pot warm vegetable broth. Heat up olive oil in a large skillet on medium temperature and then add onions. Sauté onions for 1 minute and then place mushrooms into skillet. Cook mushrooms for approximately 5 minutes. Remove mushrooms and onions from skillet. In the same skillet add butter and sauté Arborio rice in the skillet. Begin to add warm vegetable broth to rice stirring 1/2 cup at a time. Once the broth is almost absorbed add another 1/2 cup until the broth is finished. Sit the rice mixture constantly for about a half an hour. Once the risotto is finished cooking add cooked mushrooms and parmesan cheese. Season risotto with salt and pepper and garnish with basil. Enjoy!

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I purchased the Michael Smith Cookbook called Real Food, Real Good recently and made these easy and delicious burritos. They are a quick meal to make for lunch or dinner. I switched a few ingredients like using brown rice.

INGREDIENTS

2 tbsp safflower oil

1/2 vidalia onion chopped

2-3 garlic cloves chopped

1 tbsp chipotle chili powder

1 tbsp cumin powder

1 19 oz can red kidney beans or black beans rinsed and drained

1 28 oz can diced tomatoes

2 cups water

1 cup brown rice rinsed

1 tsp sea salt

Burrito Toppings

8 large whole wheat tortillas

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

2 avocados diced

1 handful cilantro

1 cup spicy salsa

DIRECTIONS

In a pot put 2 tablespoons of oil. Saute onions, garlic, chipotle chili powder and cumin on medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Add in kidney beans, diced tomatoes, water, brown rice and sea salt. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for 30 – 45 minutes and then remove from heat covered until juices absorb for another 10-15 minutes. Warm up tortilla on a pan and then add rice bean filling, shredded cheese, diced avocados and cilantro. Roll into a burrito. Serve with sweet potato as a side dish. Serve salsa on the side to dip. Enjoy!

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Whenever we go to visit our extended family, we always try to go to our favourite Ramen Noodle Restaurant called Ajisen Ramen. I decided to try to make a similar soup. It turned out pretty delicious and quite easy to put together.

INGREDIENTS

1 package ramen noodles (20 ounces)

5-6 cups organic vegetable broth

4 garlic cloves minced

1 tsp ginger powder

1 tbsp safflower oil

1 tbsp sesame oil

1 tbsp rice vinegar

4 tbsp soy sauce

1 package enoki mushrooms separated

4 cups shiitake mushrooms sliced

4 cups baby bok choy – rinsed and pealed into pieces ends slices off

6 green onions sliced fine

4 organic eggs hard boiled

4 cups frozen corn

1 package firm tofu cut into small square cubes

DIRECTIONS

In a pot heat safflower oil and sesame oil. Sauté the minced garlic and ginger powder on low heat for a few minutes. Add in vegetable broth, soy sauce and rice vinegar. Then add in mushrooms and baby bok choy. Cook for 5 minutes. Add to the broth green onion, frozen corn and tofu. While broth is cooking, in a small pot place eggs with water and bring to a boil. Turn off heat and let stand for 5 minutes and then place eggs in cold water. In a kettle boil water. Place ramen noodles in a bowl and pour boiling water on top of noodles. Let stand for 3-4 minutes and then drain noodles in a strainer. Add in ramen noodles and hard boiled eggs into the soup and continue cooking for another 10 minutes until hot. Take ramen soup off stovetop and serve in a large bowl. Enjoy!

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I’ve always enjoyed a good marble cake. This marble cake recipe from health.com has very little fat but it still moist. It is a nice alternative to a muffin as an afternoon treat. I made some minor changes to the recipe using spelt flour, greek yogurt and oil.

INGREDIENTS

1 2/3 cups whole wheat flour

2/3 cup spelt light flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp sea salt

3/4 cup cane sugar

2 large organic eggs

2 large organic egg whites

1 cup greek yogurt

1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk or organic milk

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/3 cup safflower or melted coconut oil

1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

1 oz semi-sweet chocolate melted

1 tbsp butter

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a bundt cake pan. In a bowl combine both flours, baking powder, baking soda, sea salt and cane sugar. In a separate bowl mix eggs, egg whites, greek yogurt, almond milk, applesauce, oil and vanilla. Combine the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. In a saucepan melt chocolate, cocoa powder and butter on low heat. Pour 3/4 of the batter into the bundt pan. Using a spoon spread the melted chocolate throughout the batter. Take a knife and swirl the chocolate into the batter. Add remaining cake batter on top. Place in oven and bake for 50-60 minutes. Let cool and flip onto a cake plate. Transfer to a cooling rack. Enjoy!